The curse of Collina strikes Kahn again

Yokohama - Italian referee Pierluigi Collina spent a moment at the end of Sunday's World Cup final, won 2-0 by Brazil, to console German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

But the German, whose error handed Ronaldo an easy chance for Brazil's opening goal, must be wishing he had never set sight on the referee with the distinctive bald head.

Collina, voted top referee in the world for the fourth time in January, has become a curse on Kahn and his teams.

The Italian was in charge in 1999 when Kahn's Bayern Munich lost the final of the Champions League 2-1 to Manchester United after two dramatic injury-time goals.

In the European championships two years ago, Collina refereed Germany's 1-0 defeat to England. In September last year, he was the man in the middle for another German loss to England - the humiliating 5-1 qualification defeat in Munich.

Not surprisingly, Kahn found it impossible to thank Collina for his words of comfort without reference to the past.

"Collina is an excellent referee, probably one of the best in the world, but he just doesn't bring us any luck," he said.

Germany coach Rudi Voeller defended Kahn, named goalkeeper of the tournament by Fifa after conceding only one goal in Germany's six games up to the final.

"There's no blaming Olly. He's had a fantastic World Cup. He was sensational," Voeller said.

"We have got to be happy with what we have achieved in this World Cup. We did very well, particularly in the first half-hour. "But as the game went, on we saw Brazil showing their individual class," he added.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of to lose to Brazil, but I'm still disappointed. They deserve to be world champions. They have shown it not just today, but in other games as well."

Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann made no excuses for his part in Brazil's first goal. The Liverpool player was caught in possession by Ronaldo as he tried to dribble out of danger 30m from the German goal.

"I was looking for a player to play the ball to and I was trying to keep hold of the ball. Obviously you shouldn't lose the ball in that area," he said.

As the Brazilians celebrated, Hamann stood an isolated figure in the middle of the German half, slumped over, his hands resting on his knees.

But he refused to dwell on the incident after the game. "This World Cup was very important for German football. We showed it is still alive. We have done so much better than everyone thought was possible," he said. - Reuters